After
moving their show from Red Rocks to 1st Bank Center, due to weather
concerns (that never came), one might think that Phoenix and their fans would
have left the show feeling like something was missing, like they all got sold
short. But alas, Phoenix’s performance
forced fans to forget about the incredible sunset that they could have enjoyed
at one of their favorite venues and instead packed all of their energies into
one unforgettably wonderful night at 1st Bank Center.

Guitarist Laurent Brancowitz hammering a way his signature riffs. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

They
provided their own sunset to start as a digital screen backdrop blasted orange
and purple hues during one of their newest singles “Entertainment” from the
2013 release, “Bankrupt!”. They
continued playing familiar hits to start (“Lasso”, “Lisztomania”, “Long
Distance Call”) and I began to wonder if they were going to come on too strong
and not be able to hold onto that energy through out the set. But then I realized that this is
Phoenix. This is a band that I believe
has somehow magically mixed Daft Punk with The Strokes and birthed an
incredibly tight and professional live band but still perform like it’s new and
exciting.

Phoenix (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The
backdrop that provided the sunset to start elevated the already talented
Phoenix to a whole different level of live professionalism. The screen would show different colors as if
almost a mood ring itself. It also
showed an epic shot of Mt. Everest during a medley breakdown into the song
“Chloroform”. The lights dimmed on the
keyboardist and drummer and all fans could see were their silhouettes guiding
them through the infamous peak whilst rocking out.

Mars singing Liztomania (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The
only problem that fans seemed to have was deciding whether they wanted to dance
or bang their heads. Phoenix went back
and forth seamlessly between the two options.
It was hard to find a song that most had never heard, but Phoenix made
sure to make nods at older favorites using medleys to incorporate songs like
“Rally”, “Too Young”, and “Run Run Run”. All aside, Phoenix proves that its not the venue that makes the show, it
is the band that fills it.